Rangers FC: Did you know?

Last updated : 02 March 2011

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Did you know...

Rangers hold the world record for the greatest number of major honours won. As of 2009, this stands at 111 trophies, including 52 Scottish League Championships, 33 Scottish Cups, 25 League Cups and the 1972 European Cup-Winner's Cup.

Rangers are the only club in world football to have gone through a league season with a 100% record. This was achieved in 1898/99 when the club earned a record of played 18, won 18. The feat became known simply as "The Record".

The Club's first trophy was the 1879 Glasgow Merchant's Charity Cup. It was won against old foes Vale of Leven, who had been victorious over Rangers in hotly-contested Scottish Cup finals of 1877 and 1879.

The first Scottish League Championship was shared between Rangers and Dumbarton. The clubs finished level on points at the end of season 1890/91 and a play-off at Cathkin Park ended 2-2. The decision was made to share the title for the only time in its history.

Rangers' record victory is 13-0, which has been achieved on three occasions - all in the Scottish Cup. These wins were against Possilpark and Uddingston (both in 1877) and Kelvinside (in 1889). The most goals scored in a game is 14, achieved in 14-2 victories over Whitehill (1883) and Blairgowrie (1934) both in the Scottish Cup.

The record attendance for a Rangers match came against Hibernian on 27 March 1948. A crowd of 143,570 packed in to Hampden to see Willie Thornton score the only goal of the game for a Rangers victory.

The record for most league goals scored in one season is held by Sam English, who netted 44 times in 35 games during season 1931/32.

Jimmy Fleming scored nine goals in Rangers' 1934 Scottish Cup tie against Blairgowrie. In league games, Jimmy Smith and Davie Wilson hold the record for most goals in a game with six, and Jimmy Smith managed this twice.

Ally McCoist is the Club's all-time record goal scorer, with 355 goals to his name. Jimmy Smith is the record league goal scorer with 299.

From 1925-1947, Dougie Gray made 940 appearances for Rangers. Despite being the longest-serving player and making the most Club appearances, Dougie Gray once played against Rangers and was on the winning side. In a Stirling Charity Cup match, King's Park, short of a player, asked Rangers for Gray to make up their numbers. King's Park won by four corners to three after a 3-3 draw, and Gray earned himself a winner's medal.

Rangers are the only club in Britain to have had six-figure attendances for home ties in all three major domestic cup competitions. The record British league attendance of 118,730 far eclipses that of any other British club.

James Bowie, signed from Queen's Park in 1912, is the only man to have served Rangers as a player, director and Chairman, eventually leaving Ibrox in 1947.

Season 1948/49 saw Bill Struth's Rangers become the first club to clinch a domestic treble of League, League Cup and Scottish Cup. Raith Rovers were beaten 2-0 at Hampden in the League Cup final, Clyde demolished 4-1 in front of over 120,000 supporters in the Scottish Cup final and Albion Rovers beaten by the same scoreline on the final day of the league season to clinch the treble.

Since the first domestic treble in 1948/49, Rangers lead the way with seven 'clean sweeps' in total, coming in seasons 1963/64, 1975/76, 1977/78, 1992/93, 1998/99 and 2002/03.

Rangers have never finished below sixth place in the Scottish League and have never ended a season with a negative goal difference.

Rangers reached the semi-final of the English FA Cup in 1886/87, beating Everton, Church, Cowlairs, Lincoln City and Old Westminsters before losing to eventual winners Aston Villa 3-1 in the penultimate round.

En-route to winning the European Cup-Winner's Cup in 1972, Rangers were taken to penalties by Sporting Lisbon and knocked out of the competition! It wasn't until after full time when the away goals rule was confirmed that Rangers' place was rightfully reinstated and the Club progressed to the next round against Torino.

The Club's all-time record goalscorer, Ally McCoist, won the European Golden Boot on two occasions, 1991/92 and 1992/93. Thierry Henry is the only other player to have won it in consecutive seasons.

Shota Arveladze scored Rangers' 8,000th League goal in a 3-0 victory over Dundee on 10th August, 2002. The other milestone goalscorers are:

Rangers have contributed more players and captains to the Scottish national side than any other club. The first Ranger to win international honours was co-founder Moses McNeil, who turned out for Scotland against Wales on 25th March, 1876 in a 4-0 victory.

In England's 1990 World Cup squad, Rangers were better represented than any other club. Four Ibrox men - Chris Woods, Terry Butcher, Trevor Steven and Gary Stevens - were called-up for their country.

Although Rangers have never played at Wembley, the goal voted the greatest-ever at the old stadium in a poll of supporters was scored by a Rangers player (Paul Gascoigne) against a Rangers player (Andy Goram), during the Euro '96 'Auld Enemy' tie.

The Light Blues have played in front of six-figure crowds in League games, League Cup and Scottish Cup ties, European fixtures and in a friendly.

Rangers were the first British club to play a European Cup tie in London. Arsenal's former home, Highbury, was the venue for a 3-2 Gers victory in a quarter-final playoff against Sparta Rotterdam in March 1960.

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